Gorakhpur’s infant death rate one of the worst in the world

Data from health department shows 62 out of 1,000 children born in Gorakhpur die before turning one. Against this, 48 out of 1,000 die in UP and 40 out of 1,000 in India.Shailvee Sharda | TNN | August 14, 2017, 08:08 IST

LUCKNOW: If Gorakhpur were a country, it would have been among 20 nations with the highest infant mortality rate (IMR) in the world.

Data from health department shows 62 out of 1,000 children born in Gorakhpur die before turning one. Against this, 48 out of 1,000 die in UP and 40 out of 1,000 in India.

But if compared to the global scale using data from the CIA’s (Central Intelligence Agency, US) records, infant mortality rate of Gorakhpur is as high as of 20 countries with the highest IMR. “With an IMR of 62, Gorakhpur with 44.5-lakh population would be number 18, replacing the Republic of Gambia in West Africa, with a population of 19.18 lakh,” said health activist Bobby Ramakant. With IMR of 62.90 and 64.60, Zambia and South Sudan give competition to Gorakhpur.

Topping the CIA list is Afganistan with an IMR of 112. Mali with 100, Somalia with 96, Central African Republic with 88 and Guinea Bissau with 87 follow on the subsequent ranks. Gorakhpur’s under-5 mortality is worse than the national and state average. While India’s under-5 mortality rate is 50, against UP’s rate of 62, Gorakhpur’s fairs badly with 76.

Health commentator Aarti Dhar said, “The high IMR is because of factors like malnutrition, incomplete immunisation, open defecation and unsafe drinking water.” Citing the fourth National family health survey figures, she said over 35% kids in Gorakhpur are underweight, while 42% are stunted. The district also lags on the immunisation front—one in three kids doesn’t complete the mandatory immunisation cycle. Only 35% households have toilets which suggests high rate of open defecation, resulting in 25% kids in the district suffering from diarrhoea.

Paediatricians said malnutrition and incomplete immunisation make children vulnerable towards diseases like encephalitis. “Malnourished children have lower resistance to infection and are more likely to die from common childhood ailments like diarrhoeal diseases and respiratory infections and for those who survive, frequent illness saps their nutritional status,” said Prof Shally Awasthi, faculty member King George’s Medical University.

Doctors at BRD Medical College, requesting anonymity, said 70% encephalitis-hit kids were malnourished. Social activist Rajesh Mani said, “Children have died in Gorakhpur for years and there is no dearth of data to stress the dire need to save them.”